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25 Cards in this Set
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‘a heavy-looking, rather portentous man…rather provincial in his speech’ Act 1 |
Opening stage directions suggest self-important man, aware of high status & position as head of wealthy household. Speech reveals working-class origins – he has worked hard for success, or trying to be something he's not? Themes: Power, class, sense of security |
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“your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me….Crofts and Birlings will working together – for lower costs and higher prices.” Act 1 |
The way he ends this long speech reveals what matters most to him – not love or happiness but money – sees Sheila’s marriage as a business contract. Very unsympathetic. Themes: profits above concern for people |
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“I’m a hard-headed business man….there’s a lot of wild talk these days about possible labour trouble” Act 1 |
Proud of tough approach as a business man; pays workers v.low wages Hard-hearted ,not hard-headed. Pompous, uncaring speech with dramatic irony: audiences in 1945 would know that Mr Birling is foolish not to take their threat of strikes seriously - 1926 nationwide General Strike. Themes: profits above concern for people |
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“unsinkable , absolutely unsinkable” Act 1 |
Long-winded speech full of dramatic irony - audience knows Titanic did sink in same year (1912). By using repetition, Priestley emphasises his foolishness and sets him up for a fall: he is shown at the start as confident about the progress of his own business and new technologies, but after the Inspector’s interrogation Mr Birling’s whole world is shown to be a lie, based on an illusion that the world exploiting workers for profits. Themes: Illusions, false sense of security, smugness |
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“I gather there’s a very good chance of a knighthood – so long as we behave ourselves, don’t get into the police court or start a scandal – eh? (Laughs complacently.) Act 1 |
Speaking to Gerald, Mr Birling’s tone is smug and arrogant; he is so sure of his status as a pillar of society that he feels he can joke about it. Heavily ironic - Inspector accuses him of serious moral crimes. In contrast to Sheila, he cares more about public appearances than about facing the truth honestly. Themes: appearances / lack of responsibility |
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“the way these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.” Act 1 |
Contemptuous tone – mocks idea of everyone in society taking responsibility for each other. Priestley uses words that show how wrong he thinks Mr Birling is: for most people, ‘community’ has good connotations, and the simile adds to this - bees work well together for a common purpose, so without meaning to, Mr Birling proves himself wrong. Priestley then immediately follows his selfish words with the arrival of the Inspector who will challenge his uncaring attitude. Themes: individual selfishness v social responsibility |
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“If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?” Act 1 |
Mr Birling refuses to take responsibility for the consequences of his sacking of Eva Smith. Priestley makes his comment ironic by putting it straight after the Inspector’s comment about ‘A chain of events’ linking Mr Birling’s actions to her death. By using a question, he invites the audience to think about it and judge Mr Birling. Themes: individual selfishness v social responsibility |
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“If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?” Act 1 |
Mr Birling refuses to take responsibility for the consequences of his sacking of Eva Smith. Priestley makes his comment ironic by putting it straight after the Inspector’s comment about ‘A chain of events’ linking Mr Birling’s actions to her death. By using a question, he invites the audience to think about it and judge Mr Birling. Themes: individual selfishness v social responsibility |
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“If you don’t come down sharply on these people, they’d soon be asking the earth.” Act 1 |
Mr Birling tries to justify why he would not raise his workers’ wages; his tone is snobbish and uncaring, seeing workers as a separate species, not individuals with feelings. Themes: Profits above people |
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“By jingo – a fake!” Act 3 |
Mr Birling’s reaction on discovering that there is no record of a real Inspector Goole reveals he has learned nothing. His excited tone suggests he is eager to cover up the secrets his family have Themes: Responsibility, Dishonesty |
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'Celebrating a special occasion, and are pleased with themselves' Act 1 |
Stage directions show playwrights opinions on Birlings Sets then up for a fall They are complacent and privileged but will be confronted with the reality of workers' lives Themes: comfortable existence |
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'The lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrive and then it should be bright and harder' |
Symbolise inspector's arrival is a warning to the family and the mood will change |
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I can't help thinking about this girl - destroying herself so horribly Act 1 Sheila |
Stage directions and dashes imply broken speech which shows disbelief and genuine sorrow |
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But girls aren't cheap labour - they're people (in italics) |
The italics show she is shocked by reality and the fact she has not treated poor girls like people in her life |
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'After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals.' Gerald |
Heavy irony Priestley implies the is no real/clear division between rich and poor Inspector challenges Gerald's assumption that rich are all good and yheir lives are more mixed than they think |
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Sheila: (Laughs rather hysterically) why - you fool - he knows.....and I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see. (She looks at him almost in triumph) |
Stage directions show sheila is becoming a second inspector almost. Repetition show a desire to enlighten her family and make them realise the truth |
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'You mustn't try to build up a wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the Inspector will just break it down' Sheila to mother |
Metaphor - warns family to not lie and evade responsibility. Role of second inspector - making them see what they've done |
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No he's giving us the rope - so that we'll hang ourselves Sheila |
Similar to wall metaphor. Tell them to be truthful to avoid humiliation when inspector reveals the truth. Foreshadows Mrs Birling ignoring the earnings and ranting about the father of the child which ironically is Eric. Also, this foreshadows how their smugness and blindness can cause death and suicide in particular of poor people like Eva when she drinks disinfectant. |
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'I rather respect you more....now at least you've been honest.' |
Shows sheila is maturing and Priestley uses her to imply honesty and truth are essential so people can face up to their responsibilities |
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'(Holds up hand... Eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed)' 'You know, don't you?' Eric |
Heavy irony - after Mrs Birling has her rant. Goole is almost god like and omniscient/all-knowing. He is in control of the characters and will make them confess their guilt |
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There are millions and millions of Eva smiths and John smiths...Their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives |
Repetition emphasises point. Symbolic names: eve was first woman and JS is typically English + working class so they represent the poor |
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We are all members of one body. We are reponsible for each other. |
Metaphor and Personification: society is like a human body. Works best when all part work together |
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Sheila: (flaring up) if you want to know, it's you two who are being childish - trying not to face the facts |
Younger generation challenge values of older generation. Ironic role reversal - children show compassion, responsibility and maturity and hint that future generations will change which is what happened when the welfare state was set up as modern audiences know. CTX 1912 audiences shocked modern audiences empathise with her |
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Sheila: (Bitterly) I suppose were Al nice people now |
Young vs old Younger generation seem to learn from inspector and see the truth so Sheila's tone is mocking As she sees how snobbish and deluded her family are being |
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'The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke-' '(The telephone rings sharply...)' As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls |
Heavy irony - Mr Birling's arrogant attitude is punctured with a shocking ironic twist. Audience in suspense. They are about to face up to their responsibilities. Well made play and dramatic twists shock and challenge his comfortable middle class audience into thinking about how they affect poor people's lives and try to get them to come together as 'one nation' |
